Here’s why the US can’t stop military and intel members from leaking top-secret documents
This post was originally published on this siteJack Teixeira is accused of joining Edward Snowden, Chelsea Manning, other insider threats who’ve accessed classified intelligence in ways the US can’t deter.
‘Doesn’t make sense.’ Louisville grieves as Old National Bank goes from crime scene to memorial
This post was originally published on this siteUSA TODAY Network columnist watched as some of Louisville slipped into normalcy outside Old National Bank. But that intersection won’t be the same.
Legal abortions dropped by 32,000 after Roe v. Wade was overturned
Recent analysis shows that in the six months following the Supreme Court ruling to end the federal right to an abortion, the number of legal abortions was 32,000 lower than expected in the United States, CNN reports.
There were around 5,000 fewer abortions a month compared to the months before the ruling, “a drop of about 6 percent,” CNN says. Before the ruling, in April and May, there was a monthly average of about 82,000 abortions, per the analysis. After the decision went into effect, from July to December, the number fell to an average of 77,000 monthly. “The total number of abortions fluctuated month-to-month,” CNN summarizes, “but was always lower than it was in April.”
WeCount collected the data for a research effort sponsored by the Society of Family Planning, an abortion rights nonprofit. Data was collected from abortion providers nationwide, including clinics, hospitals, private offices, and telehealth providers. Over 80 percent of known providers responded to WeCount. Though their report “represents the most complete accounting of legal abortions in America,” The New York Times writes, “the researchers acknowledge that missing data from some clinics that have declined to share it may lead to small inaccuracies.” The data was incomplete in 23 states.
The decline surpassed what some researchers predicted before Roe v. Wade was overturned. Obstacles created by new restrictions, such as “travel logistics and expenses, long wait times at some clinics and confusion or fear about laws,” the Times adds, “seem to have prevented even more women than expected from obtaining legal abortions.”
For many seeking an abortion, “the barriers that were in place were not surmountable,” said Alison Norris, Ohio State professor of epidemiology and one of the report’s authors. Many clinics have expanded their capacity to adjust to the fallout of the court’s decision, she added. But “it’s insufficient to manage the losses.”
Lindsey Graham has ‘very productive’ meeting with Saudi crown prince he previously criticized
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham said Tuesday he had a “very productive” meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom he previously criticized following the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Inflation slows to 5% in March, a nearly 2-year low, but core consumer price gains accelerate
This post was originally published on this siteMarch CPI report shows annual inflation slowed again. But core CPI jumped 5.6%
Biden administration proposes tough car pollution standards that would push US auto market aggressively toward EVs
In what would be one of the Biden administration’s most aggressive climate-change policies yet, the Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday proposed ambitious new car pollution rules that could push the US auto market strongly towards electric vehicles over the next decade.
Climate Change and Poverty Pose Challenge to World Bank
This post was originally published on this siteAs the organization embarks on overhauling lending practices, a question looms about divvying up limited resources.
Pennsylvania Sen. Bob Casey will run for reelection, boosting Democrats’ Senate outlook for 2024
Sen. Bob Casey will run for reelection in 2024, the Pennsylvania Democrat announced Monday morning, providing good news for Democrats in a pivotal swing state.
Defense officials warn of potential impact Tuberville hold on nominations will have on military
The Defense Department is urgently working with lawmakers in hopes of resolving a hold on critical military nominations, including for some of the most senior ranking officers, as concerns inside the Pentagon grow about the potential impact on national security, defense officials told CNN.
Israel bombs Lebanon as conflict at Muslim holy site spreads out from Jerusalem
Israeli fighter jets carried out airstrikes in Lebanon and the Gaza Strip early Friday in response to a barrage of rockets fired toward Israel. The strikes in southern Lebanon are a potentially serious escalation of tensions tied to clashes this week at the Al-Aqsa Mosque in Jerusalem, a site holy to both Jews and Muslims. Israel said its operation in Lebanon was aimed solely at Hamas, which it blamed for the rocket attacks. The Israeli strikes killed sheep and caused damage to houses and infrastructure, The Associate Press reports, but there were no casualties reported.
Israeli crackdowns on the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound has sparked several recent conflicts with Muslims in the region, including an 11-day war between Israel and Gaza’s Hamas government in 2021. The most recent clash started Wednesday, when Israeli police raided the Al-Aqsa Mosque twice, prompting Thursday’s rocket attacks from Gaza and Lebanon. The dozens of rockets caused some damage but resulted in no reported casualties.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed that Israel would “exact a significant price from our enemies,” accused the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah of at least knowing about the rocket attacks. Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati said military operations inside its territory will only “destabilize the situation.” Israel and Hezbollah fought a month-long war in 2006.
Egypt is working with Hamas and Israel to avoid further escalation, a Palestinian official said, and Israeli military spokesman Lt. Col. Richard Hecht said Friday that both sides want to avoid a full-blown conflict. “Quiet will be answered with quiet,” he said. But “all our eyes are now on Jerusalem.” In Jerusalem, Israeli police again used batons on Palestinian worshipers attending Friday morning prayers at Al-Aqsa Mosque. Tensions are especially high because Muslims are celebrating the holy month of Ramadan and Jews are marking Passover.
And all this comes after an especially deadly start to 2023 for Palestinians. “Nearly 90 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire in the West Bank since the start of the year,” AP reports. “During that time, 16 people have been killed in Palestinian attacks on Israelis.”